Shanghai Girl (18 page)

Lu Long 8:05 a.m."

I fold the note to protect Lu Long’s $20 bill and start to unpack my essentials. First comes the address book containing the number of Gotham University’s Political Science Department. I call them right away.

"Hello. My name is Sha-fei Hong. I have been admitted to the M.A. program starting in the Fall. I just arrived in New York from China yesterday. Could you please check to see whether I have been granted a graduate research assistantship?"

"Sorry, we wouldn't know. It's summer break time. Call back during registration."

Second call. Gordon's office. Many rings. Then, "Evening Pearls, please hold," says a snappy feminine voice in accurate American English.

On hold. I'm holding, reminded of the call I made in Shanghai to Ed Cook and the operator there. I think of Ed. I want to get in touch with him as soon as possible.

Moments later, the receptionist is back. "May I help you?"

"Er-eh, yes. I'm Sha-fei Hong, from China. I'd like to speak to Mr. Gordon Lou, please. He knows me."

"Regarding?”

Not prepared for such a question, I stumble. "Well, you see, miss, I ... I'm a friend of Mr. Lou and I just arrived in New York yesterday. I want to let him know...”

"Mr. Lou is out of town."

"Oh! When will he be back?"

"Mr. Lou is on a business trip. How may I help you?”

"Oh. I’m sorry. I’m Sha-fei Hong, from Shanghai. He'll know. Can you tell him that I called when he returns?"

"I'll let Mr. Lou know."

I hear the phone click.

Staring at the telephone receiver, I realize I didn't even get a chance to leave Lu Long's phone number with Gordon.

Suddenly, I feel the temperature in the apartment soaring. I am a little dismayed that an office lady can be so abrupt. Yet I somehow wish I could talk like her when dealing with strangers on the phone – firm without really being rude. Maybe that’s assertive without being aggressive, as Gordon once told me. I make up my mind to learn everything there is to learn in America in order to be successful.

First survive, then strive high.

I am going to see Manhattan and have my first taste of the Big Apple.

The subway map issued by the Metropolitan Transit Authority is one big puzzle to me initially. Upon closer examination, it’s not one I can't solve. Unlike the subway system, however, my life in the U.S. is uncharted. And I am boarding my first train now.

In my red summer dress pocket is the note and the $20 bill from Lu Long. I’ve kept the forty dollars I brought from China in the bottom of my suitcase. Almost the entire ride is underground, so I study the subway map until I emerge on West Fourth Street and Broadway. Compared to Shanghai, Manhattan seems to have more tall buildings, wider streets, fewer but faster walking people, and few bicycles. I feel quite at home. “You’re a big city girl. You’ll like Manhattan,” Ed Cook’s words resound in my ears. He was right. I like New York already.

As with Lu Long’s apartment, Gotham University in the Greenwich Village is also a surprise, only a pleasant one. The campus is very spread out. In fact, there is no confined campus to speak of, just a string of buildings located on adjacent city streets. The area surrounding the school has a charming residential feel to it. Besides, there are a lot more trees here than in downtown Shanghai.

After twice going to the wrong buildings, I finally locate the correct one for the Political Science Department. But even after showing up in person, I can’t find out the status of my graduate assistantship.

Disappointed, I go on with my last task – to try to find Ed Cook. Someone told me the way information works. "Just dial 411. You won't be charged if calling from a pay phone."

I use the first pay phone in sight and obtain Ed's number without a problem. "Deposit twenty-five cents for your call," a mechanical voice instructs me.

"Hello?"

It's him! I choke with excitement.

"Hello?"

"Oh, yes, yes. Mr. Edward Cook?"

"Speaking?"

"Hello, Ed! It's Sha-fei Hong. I'm in New York now!"

There is a pause, then a realization. “Ah! Sha-fei Hong! You’re that Shanghai fireball! You've made it, hey? When did you get in?”

“Yesterday!”

“What a pleasant surprise, Sha-fei!”

“I find it hard to believe myself! How have you been?”

“Not bad, I suppose. About to start my new job as an associate with a law firm on Wall Street. Where are you calling from?"

"From a pay phone in Manhattan, but I’m staying temporarily at my friend’s place in Brooklyn's Chinatown.”

"Didn’t know there is one,” Ed says dismissively. “Where are you in Manhattan?"

“Near Gotham University.” I tell him the cross streets.

"Stay right where you are. I'll come and get you."

How wonderful! Ed is as anxious to see me as I am to see him. I stand in the shade and wait for the minutes to tick by. Suddenly, I have an idea. I walk back to the pay phone and dial 411 for Gordon’s home number.

"Yes, phone number of Mr. Gordon Lou, please. Lou is spelled L-O-U."

The operator searches for a while. "At our customer's request, this number is withheld."

"What does that mean?"

"What does that mean!? It means whatever the hell you want it to mean! The number is unlisted!” And then she hangs up.

I can’t believe the operator was so rude. Did she not like me even though she couldn't see me? Why?

I return to the shade and continue to wait. Why is Ed's number listed and not Gordon's, I wonder. We won’t have this problem in Shanghai, I think. Few people have a telephone at home, and no residential phone numbers are listed anywhere.

I wait at the crossroads for Ed, sensing the approximately eighteen dollars’ worth of bills in my handbag, hungry, but happy and hopeful.

I am standing at the heart of the famed Village, taking in the sights and sounds, sniffing the hot and humid air, and grateful to the occasional breeze from the nearby Washington Square.

Ah, New York City, the Big Apple!

A yellow taxicab stops in front of me. Out hops Ed Cook. Big, sticky hug. Our first. Right on the sidewalk of Manhattan. I turn red, still unaccustomed to being greeted this way. I feel my blood surge. Ed acts as if we were old friends.

"Welcome to New York! How do you like this crazy town so far?"

"I haven't seen much of it yet, but I love it!" All the frustration I encountered in the past 24 hours is gone. "I don't think it's a crazy town. It’s a charming town."

"Charming it is!" Ed laughs, patting me on the shoulder.

"I don't think a newcomer can make any intelligent comment on New York until she sees the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building. Is that right?"

"I've no idea who told you this, but if you want to play tourist, I can take you to the Statue later."

"Really?"

"Sure, if you like."

"That would be wonderful. Thank you."

Ed looks a lot darker than he was at our meeting in Shanghai just five months ago. And so amicable. White T-shirt. Plaid shorts. Long, yellowish hairs on his legs. His T-shirt has an entirely different message from the one on Lu Long's. Red words underlined by blue read: "
No BMW. No MBA. No Condo. URBAN TRASH
." Sandy, curly short hair in a crew cut. Plastic watch with calendar in tropical colors. With summer clothes, he appears taller and more handsome.

Noticing that I’m looking at him, he asks, "Like my tan?"

"I'm not sure I'd call this a tan. It looks more like a sunburn to me."

"Oh-ho-ho," Ed shrieks like a spoiled child. "You have to give me some credit for this. I've been doing a bit of island hopping. You see, we're just not as lucky as you people who are born with a natural tan."

I smile modestly. "What's island-hopping?"

"Oh, didn't I tell you I'm starting work after the Fourth of July? I went on a two-week vacation to the Caribbean before they turn me into a modern day slave. A present from my old man for finally passing the Bar."

"The Bar?"

"Oh, yeah. You have to be admitted to the Bar to be able to practice."

"Oh. Congratulations."

"Thanks. Look, you want to go and sit down some place cool?"

I rub the money in my hand. "I’d love to. I haven't had lunch yet, but ... "

"Don't worry. This will be my treat. What do you feel like eating?"

"No, no. Don't. I'll pay myself. Just something inexpensive."

Ed laughs. "Inexpensive? You can only go to McDonald's so many times with forty bucks."

"How do you know that’s how much money I have?" I ask defensively.

"You're not the only Mainland Chinese I know. Come on, don't be coy. What do you like?"

"I’m not sure. Anything American would be nice, I suppose."

Ed glances at his watch. "It's almost four. I know where we'll go. T.G.I. Friday’s happy hour begins just about now. Let's go."

"But today is not Friday."

"Silly you. It's just the name of the restaurant. It stands for Thank God It's Friday. Have you been on the subway, yet?"

"That's how I came to Manhattan today."

"That's right. I forgot you're in Brooklyn."

"Do you always take a taxi?"

"Not always. I did today because I didn't want to have you wait for too long. The city is full of yellow-feverish sharks out to abduct pretty girls from Asia,” Ed says with a big laugh.

“What’s ‘yellow-feverish?’” I ask.

Ed smiles lightly and dismisses it. “Never mind. Just kidding.”

On the uptown-bound train, Ed explains the subway system to me on my map. Everything is a lot clearer now. I feel truly lucky to be with him.

T.G.I. Friday’s. Red and white awnings. Stained glass lamp shapes. Old car license plates. Yellowed cowboy photographs. Big black-faced clock with golden Roman numeral numbers and the words “Bollock & Son Brass Ball Bearings.” Hubbub atmosphere. I feel I'm looking into a kaleidoscope. My hand in his, I follow Ed through the labyrinthine seating arrangement to a food bar. "The snack foods are complimentary during happy hour. Help yourself."

I get what he gets as he identifies the items: buffalo chicken wings, celery and carrot sticks, chips and dip. We find a small round table with swivel stools. I munch, Ed studying me.

"So where are you going to school?"

"Gotham University, thanks to your advice."

"Good choice. What discipline?"

"Political Science for now. I still hope to get an assistantship. I went to the department this morning, but it doesn't look too good."

Ed lights a Salem cigarette and smiles. "That's not surprising, unfortunately. What do you plan to do if you don't get financial help?"

"I haven’t thought about it yet. I hope I can still get it. Keep your fingers crossed for me, please."

Ed crosses his middle and index fingers and points them directly at me. "See whether this is going to help,” he laughs lewdly.

“What did I say?”

“Nothing,” he continues to laugh. “By the way, who in Brooklyn are you staying with? Mr. Lou?"

"No, not Uncle Gordon. I haven't been able to reach him yet. I'm staying in a friend's apartment. He's also a student from Shanghai. I'll move out as soon as I can."

Waving his fork in the air, Ed says with a smile, "Good luck."

"How much time does it take to see the Statue of Liberty?" I ask.

"Right now it's probably too late to go see Lady Liberty itself. But we can take the Staten Island Ferry and get a decent enough look at it."

"Really? That's great!"

On our way to the subway heading for South Ferry, I let Ed hold my hand, explaining with a red face, "You're the first person to hold me while walking on the street." Ed scoops me towards him by my waist and plants a kiss on my cheek. "Good. I like being your first. You're in America now, Sha-fei. Time to have some fun!"

Two days in America. Two kisses from two men. Incredible!

I don't know why I give in to Ed so readily. I just hear my own voice giggling on the subway platform, as Ed and I sink down on a two-seater on the train.

Air-conditioning is so cool.

When we get off at Bowling Green and walk towards the Hudson, I wish I had a camera. The juxtaposition of the downtown Manhattan skyline and the golden waters is breath taking. The sunset and the twinkling lights from the skyscrapers turn what Ed tells me is the Financial District into a cluster of glittering spires. This view reminds me of the Bund at dusk when the sun sinks into the Huangpu River, with the east bank of Shanghai basking in a sheet of gold. The giant Colgate sign in New Jersey is a mirror image of the SONY neon signs in Shanghai. The looming Statue of Liberty, with the flickering light from the Lady's torch breaking into the evening, conveys a feeling of sanctity.